OBD Symposium in Prague

After a longer break, the OBD Symposium Europe will again take place as an on-site event this year from March 14-16. The symposium is an important opportunity to update knowledge around OBD standardization and a place for intensive exchange for all participants from the automotive industry. Our products Silver Scan-Tool, DiagRA® D and DiagRA® S are important OBD test and simulation tools used in automotive development.

RA Consulting therefore participates in the symposium both as a participant and as an exhibitor in order to be brought up to date regarding the latest developments. In addition to the well-known products, we will present our new software Silver Snap-Tool. This solution is the only tool authorized by CARB to support the California Heavy Duty Inspection and Maintenance Programms (HD/IM) and is suitable for transmitting OBD data from any truck built in 2013 and later to CARB.

This data transmission is encrypted and secured via a cloud service application created by RAC. In the current Phase 1 of the program, this transmission can be used as an alternative to emissions testing. Identified, so-called high-emitters are required to carry out a transmission of OBD data in addition to the exhaust gas test after the repair has been carried out on the exhaust system.

Interested parties, as well as active users, are cordially invited to contact us at our exhibition booth and ask questions or provide information on functionalities that will be required in the future. You are welcome to contact us in advance. Please email us at info@rac.de.

For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: https://www.sae.org/attend/obd-europe

Official certification of our Silver Snap-Tool by CARB

Our new Silver Snap-Tool software has now received official approval from the California Air Resource Board, Heavy-Duty Inspection and Maintenance Unit. This allows RA Consulting to sell the tool to owners and fleet owners operating trucks in California. Sales will be made through RA Automotive Software Solutions, Inc, our Michigan/USA office.

The software will help truck owners complete California’s planned alternative submission process to the Periodic Smoke Inspection Program (PSIP, Title 13, California Code of Regulations (CCR), Section 2193(f)) and the Heavy Duty Inspection and Maintenance Program (HD I/M, Title 13, CCR, Section 2196.3(a)(3)).

To do this, Silver Snap-Tool reads OBD data from vehicles using SAE J1979 and SAE J1939 protocols, encrypts it, and sends it to the CARB-operated receiving server via a RA access server. CARB then analyzes the data. In close coordination with CARB, we have placed special emphasis on ease of use that avoids user error, on ensuring information security, and on encrypted data transmission and maximum protection against fraud attempts.

RA Consulting and RA Automotive Software Solutions will be exhibiting at the OBD Symposium from September 13-15, 2022 in Garden Grove, California. There we will also show the first official version of Silver Snap-Tool.

RA Online Userday 2022

Our RA Online Userday 2022 has come to a successful end.

We would like to thank all speakers for the exciting technical presentations and all participants for their participation.

We were able to present four exciting technical presentations with product highlights from the fields of measurement, calibration and diagnostics.

  • DiagRA® X – Usability rethought
    Presentation of the measurement and calibration software, current state of development, outlook
    Ingo Besenfelder, Team Leader Development DiagRA® X
    Hanamant Hirekurbar, Technical Sales
  • IAV Macara – Efficiency gain in the application through data comparison
    Presentation of the software for editing, validating and visualizing application parameters
    Kai-Niclas Henne, Product Manager Software, TX-X Products
    IAV GmbH Ingenieurgesellschaft Auto und Verkehr
  • DiagRA® Embedded – Diagnostics for data logging and telematics
    The future of a modular platform-independent diagnostic solution
    Andreas Hege, Chief Operating Officer
  • DiagRA® D and Silver Scan-Tool™ – Diagnosis always up to date with legislation
    Current diagnostic topics, important new functionalities and improvements
    Peter Stoß, Director Automotive Products

For all those who could not attend the presentations live or would like to watch them again, we have made the presentations of DiagRA® X by Ingo Besenfelder and Hanamant Hirekurbar, DiagRA® Embedded by Andreas Hege and DiagRA® D & Silver Scan-Tool™ by Peter Stoß available for you online.

We are already looking forward to seeing you again as a participant at our RA (Online) Userday 2023.

 

DiagRA® X  – Usability rethought
Presentation of the measurement and calibration software, current state of development, outlook
Ingo Besenfelder, Team Leader Development DiagRA® X
Hanamant Hirekurbar, Technical Sales

Here you can find more about our product DiagRA® X the solution for measurement and calibration.

 

DiagRA® Embedded – Diagnostics for data logging and telematics
The future of a modular platform-independent diagnostic solution
Andreas Hege, Chief Operating Officer

Here you can find more about our product DiagRA® Embedded our solution for location-independent diagnostics and flashing.easurement and calibration.

 

DiagRA® D and Silver Scan-Tool™ – Diagnosis always up to date with legislation
Current diagnostic topics, important new functionalities and improvements
Peter Stoß, Director Automotive Products

Here you can find more about our products DiagRA® D the diagnostics solution for automotive control units and Silver Scan-Tool™ the software solution for all OBD diagnostics.

DiagRA® X 1.10

Next Generation Measurement and Calibration Tool

DiagRA® X is an efficient, intuitive and powerful Windows software that provides a comprehensive solution for measurement tasks and calibration of electronic control units.

DiagRA® X is a fully integrated tool, providing, Fast Measurement, Smart Calibration, Flash Programming and Compact Calibration Data Management.

DiagRA® X is developed in compliance with ASAM standards and functional safety is ensured in accordance with ISO 26262.

DiagRA® X supports industry standard protocols and file formats.

  • Protocols: CAN, CAN FD, CCP, XCP on CAN/Ethernet, GPS, ASAP3
  • File formats: .A2L, .DBC, .HEX/S19, .DCM, .MDF4.x, .LAB many more…

DiagRA® X is compatible with a wide range of third-party interface hardware such as Kvaser, Intrepid, I+ME Actia, PassThru and many others. Very often customers can continue to use their existing interface hardware with DiagRA® X.

DiagRA® X is a user-friendly tool with a user interface based on a grid layout that can be highly customized to the user’s needs, e.g. with optimal display colors in a dark and a light display mode, multiple languages (EN, DE and CN), configurable visualizations and system settings tailored to the use cases.
An integrated data base management system provides smart and sparkling management of configurations.

What’s new in DiagRA® X Version 1.10?

  • Extended Virtual variables with extensive range of library functions
  • Modern development environment for virtual variables
  • Improved performance, fault tolerance and robustness
  • Revised user interfaces

Fast Measurement

  • Plug and Play source connectivity and instant data visualization
  • A modern and user-friendly way to organize your data
  • Rich set of configurable visualizers (Oscilloscope, Icons, Gauges, Tables…)
  • Multiple event-driven recorders that operate independently of each other
  • Live statistical analysis in oscilloscopes
  • High measurement data throughput (100 kHz)

Smart Calibration

  • Real time controller calibration
  • Integrated ASAP3 client for connectivity to automation/testbench systems
  • Smart and safe calibration visualizers (3D, 2D, Tables)
  • Graphical adjustment in the section views
  • Supports multiple working datasets

Flash Programming

  • ECU flash programming via CCP and XCP
  • Configurable UDS flash process with an additional included software

Compact Calibration Data Management

  • Easy-to-use onboard calibration data manager
  • Live comparison of calibration data and display of changes
  • Import and export of calibration data sets
  • Supports hex, s19 and dcm file formats

Powerful Data Analysis with DiagRA® X Viewer

  • DiagRA® X Viewer is a powerful data analysis tool included in the DiagRA® X license
  • DiagRA® X Viewer offers well defined and reusable configurations
  • New: Extended Virtual variables with extensive range of library functions
  • Swift analytical functions, multiple cursor types, event indications
  • Supports .MDF4.x, .MDF3.x, .dat, .csv, .lab, .xlsx, .txt file formats

Extended Virtual Variables in DiagRA X 1.10 with library functions, smart suggestion box.  

SmartLoad closing event

On October 26, 2021, the final event of the SmartLoad research project, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, took place at KIT Karlsruhe.

The project partners explored a new reliable system architecture and vehicle design process for highly automated electric vehicles. Eight scientific and industrial partners from Baden-Württemberg contributed their expertise and benefited from close cooperation. [Source: Smartload]

As part of the project, the specification and execution of a scenario-based test using OTX and OSC 1.0 for the test and scenario description was carried out in collaboration with RWTH Aachen University with positive results. In particular, the result of this study was used as input for the ASAM TestStudyGroup. [Source: Smartload]

At the final event of the three-year project, the results were demonstrated live on a prototype.

 

Project partner:

Source: Smartload-Project http://www.smartload-project.de/

Automatic data set comparison and newly created data set with manual data transfer, quick filters

IAV Macara

All those who often have to compare application data sets know that this can be a tedious task. How nice it would be if one could simply load an A2L description file and several data set files into a software and then automatically compare them all with each other. If the result is then displayed clearly and you can easily focus on the variables of interest to you using strong filters, that would be a big win.
This is what IAV Macara does.

Automatic data set comparison and newly created data set with manual data transfer, quick filters

Automatic data set comparison and newly created data set with manual data transfer, quick filters

And IAV Macara can do much more. The user can merge data from several data sets into a new data set and also make changes here, i.e. edit individual values but also characteristic curves and maps and their interpolation points. Of course, this is done in compliance with the rules described in A2L, such as hard and soft limits or interpolation point monotony. Suitable editors and graphic displays help when changing values. The created data sets can then be exported in the formats DCM, CDFX or PaCo and also loaded again.

Data view map, hard limit exceeded from A2L

Data view map, hard limit exceeded from A2L

For the use of various data sources, the cloud functionality provides access to the file system and to interfaces, e.g. to AVL Creta and Eta’s INCA database. Interested? Then contact us via email at info@rac.de. RA Consulting is the exclusive reseller for IAV Macara.

Note: IAV Macara is currently only approved for use in the European Union.

Display result of plausibility check

Display result of plausibility check

Remote control of DiagRA D and Silver Scan-Tool via the optional Web Services API

More and more users of DiagRA D and Silver Scan-Tool are taking advantage of the remote control option via the Webservices API. Via the interface, external applications on the same computer or in the local network can use almost the complete functionality of both applications. For example, flash sequences with subsequent diagnostic tests can be automated via a Python script or special diagnostic tests on HiLs or test benches can be integrated into the experiments. Of course, recurring OBD tests can also be automated very easily.

Technical background: The interface of the web services is given by a machine-processable format, typically by WSDL (Web Services Description Language). The network protocol SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) is used for communication. XML is used as the message format and the HTTP protocol for communication within the network. In the case of DiagRA D/Silver Scan-Tool, communication takes place between a client programme and DiagRA D/Silver Scan-Tool, with DiagRA D/Silver Scan-Tool serving as the server application. The web services are implemented as an API for SOAP, so the user does not have to worry about creating the XML messages or HTTP communication.

The example below shows how the communication is first initiated via DiagRA D using a Python script, then all values from mode $01 are read from all OBD ECUs, then the ECU supply voltage PID $42 is specifically read, and finally the MIL status from mode $03 is read. Finally, communication with the OBD system is terminated. In the example, ZEEP is used as the SOAP client. Documentation of the commands can be found directly in existing installations of DiagRA D or Silver Scan-Tool in the Samples folder.
The Webservices plugin is an optional extension of a DiagRA D or Silver Scan-Tool licence and can either be ordered with a licence or added later.
If you are interested, please contact us at info@rac.de.

Example Python script:

#!/usr/bin/python3
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-

import sys
import time
# PLEASE NOTE:
#   This script uses the third party package Zeep ("A fast and modern Python SOAP client").
#   Find Zeep in the Python package index: https://pypi.org/project/zeep/
#   Find its documentation here: https://docs.python-zeep.org/en/master/
#   Should you be interested in logging, this might help you: https://docs.python-zeep.org/en/master/plugins.html
#   Zeep project and sources on GitHub: https://github.com/mvantellingen/python-zeep
from zeep import Client, Transport, __version__ as zeep_version

# Configure web service connection.
# PLEASE NOTE:
#   If web service is not running on local machine (localhost/127.0.0.1),
#   you will have to call the login method at first, before being able to use any other method.
IP_ADDRESS = "localhost"
PORT = 1024
# Set 'INTRANET_ONLY', if an internet connection is not available.
# PLEASE NOTE:
#   This requires the 'soapencoding.xsd' to reside in './resources' subfolder.
#   It can be downloaded, here: http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/encoding/
INTRANET_ONLY = False


# Web service constants
RETURN_CODE_SUCCESS = 0
COMMUNICATION_STARTED = 0
COMMUNICATION_STOPPED = 1
COMMUNICATION_ESTABLISHED = 2


class TransportIntranetOnly(Transport):

    def load(self, url):
        # See https://stackoverflow.com/a/40280341

        if (url == "http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/encoding/"):
            url = "resources/soapencoding.xsd"

        # print(url)
        return super(TransportIntranetOnly, self).load(url)

def wait_for_communication(get_status):
    result = False
    while True:
        communication_status = get_status()
        print(f"Communication status: {communication_status}")

        if (communication_status == COMMUNICATION_ESTABLISHED):
            result = True
            break
        # Also leave loop if communcation has unexpectedly been stopped.
        if (communication_status == COMMUNICATION_STOPPED):
            print("Communication has been stopped.")
            break

        time.sleep(1)  # Wait before next poll.

    return result


def main(intranetonly):
    print("Web service OBD sample | RA Consulting GmbH 2021 | www.rac.de")
    print("")

    # PLEASE NOTE:
    #   DiagRA D or Silver Scan-Tool needs to be running and web service needs to be activated.

    wsdl = f"http://{IP_ADDRESS}:{PORT}/wsdl/IDiagRAWebservice"

    if intranetonly:
        client = Client(wsdl, transport=TransportIntranetOnly())
    else:
        client = Client(wsdl)

    webservice = client.service
    # factory = client.type_factory("ns0")  # Needed to handle non-primitive argument and return types.

    # Perform login.
    # PLEASE NOTE:
    #   This is required if web service is not running on local machine (localhost/127.0.0.1).
    # webservice.Login("Example python script")
    try:
        # Temporarily increase log level of the web service. Possible values are 1 to 7.
        # The log file is very helpful if things don't work out as expected. It contains all the called methods, the given arguments, the results and the return codes.
        # It is written to '%LocalAppData%\RA Consulting\DiagRA D\Log' or '%LocalAppData%\RA Consulting\Silver Scan-Tool\Log', respectively,
        # and is called 'DiagRA_RemoteControl_*.log'.
        # You can also set a permanent log level in the Windows registry. Have a look into DiagRA D's/Silver Scan-Tool's help file to find out how this is done.
        webservice.Configure("LOGLEVEL", "5")

        # Print versions.
        webservice_version = webservice.GetVersion("")
        print("Versions:")
        print(f"- Python {sys.version}")
        print(f"- Zeep {zeep_version}")
        print(f"- Web service {webservice_version}")
        print()

        # Set addressword for OBD and obtain its index.
        # PLEASE NOTE:
        #   If you like to communicate with a distinct ECU/addressword instead, you need to use 'GetECUIndex'
        #   and the web service's non-OBD methods (the ones not containing 'OBD' in their names).
        #   For a list of all available methods, see web service reference PDF that resides in
        #   subfolder '.\Samples\WebServices\Doc' of the installation directory.
        obd_index = webservice.GetOBDIndex("33", "")
        print(f"OBD index: {obd_index}")
        if (obd_index < RETURN_CODE_SUCCESS):
            print(webservice.GetLastErrorText())
        else:
            # OBD addressword has been successfully set.
            # Now set protocol.
            webservice.Configure("PROTOCOL", "ISO 15765-4 (CAN)")

            # Try to start communication.
            return_code = webservice.StartOBDCommunication(obd_index)
            print(f"Start communication: {return_code}")
            if (return_code == RETURN_CODE_SUCCESS):
                # Communication could be started.
                try:
                    # Wait until communication has fully been established, before requesting data.
                    communication_established = wait_for_communication(lambda: webservice.GetOBDCommunicationStatus(obd_index))

                    if communication_established:
                        # Read current data.
                        result = webservice.GetOBDAllCurrentData(obd_index)
                        print("Current Data: ")
                        for item in result:
                            print(item)

                        # Read module voltage.
                        result = webservice.GetOBDSingleCurrentData(obd_index, "42")
                        print("Control Module Voltage: ")
                        for item in result:
                            print(item)

                        # Get MIL status.
                        result = webservice.GetOBDMILStatus(obd_index)
                        print("Mode 3: ")
                        for item in result:
                            print(item)
                finally:
                    # Stop communication.
                    return_code = webservice.StopOBDCommunication(obd_index)
                    print(f"Stop communication: {return_code}")

    finally:
        # Perform logout.
        # webservice.Logout()
        pass


if (__name__ == "__main__"):
    main(INTRANET_ONLY)

New Board Member and Management at ASAM e.V.

ASAM Board of Directors, term 2021 – 2023 (From left to right: Dr. René Grosspietsch (BMW AG), Prof. Marcus Rieker, Chairman (HORIBA Europe GmbH), Dr. Ralf Nörenberg (HighQSoft GmbH), Armin Rupalla (RA Consulting GmbH), Prof. Frank Köster (DLR e.V.)

ASAM e.V., an international standardization organization in automotive electronics announces important personnel changes with the beginning of the second quarter of 2021.

  • Board of Directors: Dr. René Grosspietsch (BMW AG) was elected to the ASAM Board of Directors at this year’s General Assembly. He replaces Richard Vreeland (Cummins Inc), who did not run again. All other board members retain their positions. Prof. Marcus Rieker (Horiba Europe GmbH) was confirmed as Chairman of the Board.
  • Management: Since 01.04.2021, Peter Voss is the new Managing Director of ASAM e.V. He takes over this task from Dr. Klaus Estenfeld, who will pursue other responsibilities within ASAM.

Hoehenkirchen, Germany – April 21, 2021 – Dr. René Grosspietsch (BMW AG) was elected as a new member of the ASAM Board of Directors at the General Assembly on March 24, 2021. He replaces Richard Vreeland (Cummins Inc.), who did not run for the board position. During his career, Dr. Grosspietsch has gained extensive experience in the areas of strategy and innovation management, especially with regard to the validation of driver assistance systems. “I am convinced that the validation and market introduction of autonomous driving functions require a common technological basis and global understanding of the automotive industry. Standards play a very important role in that regard,” said Dr. Grosspietsch before his election to the board.
Prof. Marcus Rieker (Horiba Europe GmbH) was confirmed in his position as Chairman of the Board during the constituent meeting of the ASAM Board on April 20, 2021. Prof. Rieker has a long-standing and close relationship with ASAM: The new term of office is his seventh on the ASAM Board and his second as Chairman of the Board. He had also been involved in ASAM working groups for many years before his board membership. “Throughout my career, ASAM has always been part of my work. I have seen how great the organization has evolved over the years. Now there are new challenges ahead, which I will be happy to tackle together with my colleagues on the Executive Board,” Prof. Rieker summed up on the occasion of his re-election.
Thus, Prof. Marcus Rieker (HORIBA Europe GmbH), Dr. René Grosspietsch (BMW AG), Prof. Frank Köster (DLR e.V.), Dr. Ralf Nörenberg (HighQSoft GmbH) and Armin Rupalla (RA Consulting GmbH) will continue the board activities for the next two years.
The major tasks of the Board of Directors will be to continue the internationalization of the organization and to further develop the ASAM standards portfolio. The new standardization domain “Simulation”, which supports the implementation of highly automated and autonomous driving, shall be further extended and merged with activities in the classic domains. For the Board of Directors, cooperation with other standardization organizations and participation in publicly funded projects is another important strategic point.

General Management
At the same time, ASAM announces another recruitment: Peter Voss has taken over the position of Managing Director at ASAM e.V. as of 01.04.2021. He succeeds Dr. Klaus Estenfeld, who is leaving this position after five years. Prof. Marcus Rieker, Chairman of the ASAM Board of Directors, pays tribute to Dr. Estenfeld’s work: “The last 5 years that Dr. Estenfeld has served as Managing Director have been exceptional for ASAM e.V. in every aspect. We thank him for his intensive and very successful work as well as his tireless commitment. At the same time, we are pleased to have been able to win Mr. Voss as our new Managing Director. We are convinced that Mr. Voss, together with the experienced ASAM team, will further develop our organization and drive it to new peaks.” Dr. Estenfeld will continue to serve ASAM as an Executive Advisor.

Peter Voss (left) is new Managing Director at ASAM e.V. He has taken over from Dr. Klaus Estenfeld (right) who is leaving this position after five years. Source. ASAM e.V.

About ASAM e.V.
ASAM e.V. (Association for Standardization of Automation and Measuring Systems) is actively promoting standardization in the automotive industry. Together with its more than 350 member organizations worldwide, the association develops standards that define interfaces and data models for tools used for the development and testing of electronic control units (ECUs) and for the validation of the entire vehicle. The ASAM portfolio currently comprises 33 standards that are applied in tools and tool chains in automotive development worldwide.

Source: ASAM e.V.

Alternativ Text

News about DiagRA D and Silver Scan-Tool

Current versions as of December 9, 2020: 7.45.40

  • new recording format MDF4 with selectable MDF version 4.2.0, 4.1.1, 4.1.0 or 4.0.0
  • We have added DiagRA X Viewer to our download server. It is an add-on tool that can open MDF4 files created with DiagRA D’s recording function. We have decoupled it from our DiagRA X application tool for use with DiagRA D. You do not need an additional license for the viewer (just as you do for XML-Convert and XML-to-Excel).
  • The XML-to-PDF help tool has been replaced by the XML-Convert tool. The XML-to-PDF conversion function is again implemented in this new tool and in addition there is an XML-to-HTML function. The reason for this is that there are more and more problems when browsers are supposed to open XML files using a stylesheet. Just install the tool. It removes the XML-to-PDF tool and provides the same functionality plus the HTML conversion feature.
  • XML-to-Excel lets you convert OBD data from XML outputs of DiagRA D measurement runs to Excel. One can convert multiple XML files to one Excel file, simultaneously or sequentially, to compare them.
  • Adaptation work for the new SAE J1979-2 has started. We expect to provide a first version in the middle of Q1 2021.
  • Extensive enhancements for NOx binning and Green House Gas in SAE J1939 and in SAE J1979 Mode $09.

DiagRA D only

  • Support for CAN FD. Many interface types are already supported. Communication with ECUs supporting CAN FD is much faster – especially flash programming via DiagRA D Flash Plugin.
  • Autosar XML for parameterization of FlexRay communication
DiagRA® Flash Station Banner

News Story DiagRA Embedded

Our DiagRA Embedded component provides a complete diagnostic stack as well as ECU flash programming on both Windows and embedded Linux devices. As a component library, it provides a C/C++ API. As a standalone version it is available with an integrated web server providing ReST and SOAP APIs. The following diagnostic standards are currently supported: ISO 14229 (UDS), ISO 27145, SAE J1939, SAE J1979, OBDII and WWH-OBD. CAN, CAN-FD, DoIP are supported. Currently already supported interfaces are SocketCAN, PEAK, Kvaser, PassThru and RP1210.

 

Possible Use-Cases

  • Engineering: as an application component for diagnostics or programming of test systems in the laboratory, on test setups during the diagnostic development process
  • Testing: as a component integrated in test benches or HiL test systems
  • Testing and verification of real driving emissions: as a component integrated on data loggers and telematic control units
  • Production: as an end-of-line update and test system, for automated programming stations or in a stand-alone Flash application during vehicle transport. Already available in the DiagRA Flash Station tool, which can program up to 10 ECUs on 10 separate vehicle buses.
  • After Sales: integrated in the workshop tester or as a component for diagnostics in the back-end.
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